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Clemson joins FSU in filing lawsuit against Atlantic Coast Conference
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- Clemson joins FSU in filing lawsuit against Atlantic Coast Conference
Florida State has company in its legal battle against the Atlantic Coast Conference , further signaling the potential unraveling of the league.
Fellow ACC power Clemson University filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the conference in Pickens County over its grant of media rights deal .
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The 28-page complaint is the first step by the Tigers to ultimately leave the conference and similar to FSU's court battle over the league's Grant of Rights.
The GOR agreement gives the conference the right to broadcast all member schools' home games for the duration of the media rights deal, which is with ESPN and expires in 2036.
The Seminoles are exploring avenues to leave the league and believe they should be allowed to exit without penalty. Without a negotiated settlement or court order, FSU estimates the cost to leave would exceed $500 million.
Clemson's legal filing comes the same week FSU and the ACC are set to meet for the first time in court , scheduled for Friday in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, court.
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Another motion hearing is set for April 9 in Leon County.
While FSU has been vocal in its fight with the ACC, insiders say Clemson has been preparing to start its legal fight against the ACC for months.
Both make it clear the ACC lags well behind the SEC and Big Ten in revenue due to the ACC's current television contract.
The suit also comes the same day the College Football Playoff is expected to announce a deal with ESPN. Each Big Ten and SEC team is expected to earn more than $21 million annually under the new CFP agreement, that is scheduled to start in 2026.
ACC teams are expected to earn more than $13 million.
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In a joint statement Tuesday from Jim Ryan, Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, and ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, the pair said:
"The ACC remains confident that its agreements with all its members will be affirmed by the courts. Clemson, along with all ACC members, voluntarily signed and re-signed the 2013 and 2016 Grant of Rights, which is binding through 2036. In addition, Clemson agreed to the process and procedures for withdrawal. The Conference's legal counsel will vigorously enforce the agreement and bylaws in the best interests of the ACC's current and incoming members."
Clemson joins FSU in legal fight against the Atlantic Coast Conference
According to Pickens County court records, the lawsuit takes aim at the claim by the ACC that it "irrevocably owns the media rights of member institutions to home games played through 2036, even if an institution ceases to being a member" and "paying an exorbitant $140 million penalty to leave the conference, where members owe the conference fiduciary duties."
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"Each of these erroneous assertions separately hinders Clemson's ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members, and to obtain full value for its future media rights," the complaint states.
"As detailed below, collegiate athletics is at a crossroads. Without clarity as to its legal rights and obligations, Clemson cannot protect and advance its interests, or the interests of its student-athletes, in current and ongoing negotiations within the Conference, with the Conference's existing media partner ESPN, and in collegiate athletics more generally."
Clemson's lawsuit seeks response from the ACC within 30 days or it will claim judgment by default.
Derrian Carter of The Greenville News contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Clemson sues ACC, joining FSU in legal fight
